BEJMA Receives an Additional $25,000 Investment from the Boston Women's Fund

Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA) is honored to announce that we have received an additional $25,000 investment from the Boston Women's Fund, a longtime partner and champion of our work.

This generous investment reflects the Boston Women's Fund's continued commitment to advancing gender, racial, and economic justice by supporting community-led organizations creating lasting change across Massachusetts. Their partnership has been instrumental in helping BEJMA strengthen our coalition, advance birth equity, build partnerships, and advocate for policies that improve maternal and child health.

This funding will support BEJMA's continued efforts to convene leaders, educate communities, advocate for equitable maternal health policies, and expand opportunities for collaboration across the Commonwealth.

We are deeply grateful to the Boston Women's Fund for believing in our mission and investing in the power of collective action. Together, we are building a future where every birthing person and family has access to safe, respectful, and equitable care.

Thank you, Boston Women's Fund, for your partnership, trust, and continued investment in birth equity. We look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

To learn more about Boston Women’s Fund, check out their website: https://www.bostonwomensfund.org/

Centering Care: Celebrating Mothering the Mother with Mama Shafia Monroe

BEJMA was honored to join the Boston Women's Fund and the New Commonwealth Fund for a special evening celebrating the release of Mothering the Mother, the debut book by renowned traditional midwife, public health leader, and cultural healer Mama Shafia Monroe.

The event brought together birth workers, healthcare professionals, advocates, funders, and community leaders to explore the importance of postpartum care, healing, and the collective responsibility to support mothers throughout their journey.

BEJMA's Interim Co-Chair, Tiffany Vassell, MSN, RN, was honored to serve as a moderator alongside fellow Boston Women's Fund grantees Julia Lotin, LICSW, of Melanin Mass Moms, and Stephanie Crawford, M.Ed., of PropaCity Community Outreach. Together, they facilitated an empowering conversation on community-based care, reproductive justice, and the importance of centering mothers during one of the most transformative periods of their lives.

Drawing from more than 40 years of experience, Mama Shafia shared the wisdom behind Mothering the Mother, reminding us of the power of African American postpartum traditions rooted in nourishment, rest, ritual, and community. Her message reinforced that improving maternal health requires not only excellent clinical care but also strong support systems that honor the whole person.

BEJMA extends its gratitude to the Boston Women's Fund and the New Commonwealth Fund for creating space for these important conversations and for their continued investment in advancing birth equity and reproductive justice across Massachusetts.

Photo credit: Mama Shafia Monroe

Photo credit: Mama Shafia Monroe

Advancing Midwifery, Advancing Birth Equity: BEJMA Joins Bay State Birth Coalition at the State House

During Black Maternal Health Week, BEJMA was proud to stand alongside our valued partner, the Bay State Birth Coalition, and more than 100 advocates from across Massachusetts for a powerful day of advocacy at the Massachusetts State House.

Organized by the Bay State Birth Coalition in partnership with leading maternal health organizations, the convening united midwives, birth workers, healthcare professionals, community advocates, researchers, and families around a shared goal: expanding access to equitable, community-based maternity care for every family in the Commonwealth.

The day featured inspiring remarks from legislative champions Senator Liz Miranda, Representative Marjorie Decker, and Representative Manny Cruz, as well as maternal health leaders, including Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha of BEJMA. Advocates also heard from practicing midwives and received advocacy training from Emily Anesta before meeting directly with legislators to discuss policies that support birth equity.

Together, advocates urged lawmakers to support legislation and budget priorities that would:

  • Strengthen and sustain the midwifery workforce.

  • Expand access to freestanding birth centers and community birth options.

  • Increase access to nurse-midwifery services across Massachusetts.

  • Invest in midwifery education and workforce development.

  • Support perinatal mental health services and continued implementation of the 2024 maternal health law.

For BEJMA, this work reflects our core mission: ensuring that families have access to safe, respectful, culturally responsive care and the full spectrum of birth options. Expanding access to midwifery care and birth centers is not simply about increasing choices. It is about improving maternal health outcomes, reducing disparities, and creating a healthcare system that listens to and supports families.

We are grateful to the Bay State Birth Coalition for its leadership in organizing this important day of advocacy and to every organization, legislator, and advocate who lent their voice to this effort. Meaningful systems change happens when coalitions come together with a shared vision, and this convening demonstrated the strength of our collective movement.

To learn more about Bay State Birth Coalition, checkout their website: https://baystatebirth.org/

Photo credit: Stefanie Belnavis

Photo credit: Stefanie Belnavis

A Vision Becoming Reality: Celebrating the Neighborhood Birth Center

For years, the dream of a freestanding birth center in Roxbury has represented more than a new healthcare facility—it has symbolized hope, choice, and justice for families and communities across Boston. Today, that vision is one step closer to becoming a reality.

As a proud supporter of the Neighborhood Birth Center, BEJMA has long supported its mission to expand access to equitable, community-centered maternity care. Birth centers provide families with additional options for pregnancies while offering personalized, relationship-based care that has been shown to improve experiences and outcomes. Their expansion is an important step toward addressing persistent maternal health disparities and ensuring that families have access to safe, respectful, and culturally responsive care.

This milestone is especially meaningful to Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, CNM, BEJMA's Interim Co-Chair and a member of the Neighborhood Birth Center's Board of Directors. Throughout her career as a certified nurse-midwife, Dr. Rorie has been a steadfast advocate for expanding access to midwifery care and birth centers. Bringing a birth center to Roxbury has long been one of her hopes, not only as a midwife, but as someone deeply committed to ensuring families have meaningful choices in where and how they give birth.

The Neighborhood Birth Center represents what is possible when communities lead, partnerships grow, and policies begin to align with the needs of families. It is the result of countless advocates, clinicians, community members, and organizations working together to transform maternal healthcare in Massachusetts.

BEJMA congratulates Nashira Baril, the Neighborhood Birth Center team, Board of Directors, community partners, and every advocate whose persistence helped make this achievement possible. While there is still work ahead, this moment reminds us that meaningful change takes vision, courage, and collective action.

To learn more about the Neighborhood Birth Center check them out here: https://neighborhoodbirthcenter.org/

Photo credit: https://neighborhoodbirthcenter.org/

BEJMA Celebrates Five Years of Collective Impact

Centering the Leadership of Black and Brown Birthing People: Wellness & Thriving Across the Lifespan

Last year, the Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts (BEJMA) proudly celebrated five years of statewide organizing, advocacy, and coalition building dedicated to advancing birth equity across Massachusetts.

The celebration, Centering the Leadership of Black and Brown Birthing People: Wellness & Thriving Across the Lifespan, also honored the 30-year legacy of the Black Women's Health Study, highlighting the powerful connection between research, community leadership, policy, and practice in improving the health of Black women and families.

The program opened with inspiring remarks from Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Christopher Worrell, whose leadership continues to advance maternal health and health equity throughout the Commonwealth.

The keynote address, "We Are the Study Come Alive," delivered by Dr. Yvette Cozier, reflected on the lasting impact of the Black Women's Health Study and reminded attendees that research has the greatest impact when it informs action and centers the lived experiences of Black women.

A thought-provoking panel featuring Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Dr. Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson, and Dr. Yvonne Gomez-Carrion explored the future of maternal health, reproductive justice, and birth equity while emphasizing the importance of sustained investment in Black and Brown communities.

Recognizing that healing is essential to movement work, participants also experienced grounding and wellness offerings led by Valerie Abrigo Rivera of Clinician On A Mission, community reflections from the Sacred Birthing Village, and a restorative closing sound bath.

The celebration was both a reflection on BEJMA's first five years and a call to continue the work ahead. Together with our coalition members, community partners, birth workers, researchers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and legislative champions, BEJMA remains committed to advancing policies, partnerships, and community-driven solutions that ensure Black and Brown birthing people and their families can thrive.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. We look forward to building the next chapter of birth equity, together.

BEJMA Celebrates the Second Annual Reproductive Futurism Think Tank

This past April marked the second annual Reproductive Futurism Think Tank Convening, bringing together visionary scholars, advocates, artists, birth workers, clinicians, and movement leaders to reimagine the future of reproductive justice. Building on the success of its inaugural convening in 2025, this year's gathering continued critical conversations about how the Black feminist framework of Reproductive Justice must evolve to address the opportunities and ethical challenges presented by reproductive and genetic technologies.

BEJMA proudly celebrates the leadership of our Steering Committee member, Dr. Jallicia Jolly, who co-leads this groundbreaking convening alongside the esteemed Professor Loretta Ross of Smith College, one of the co-creators of the Reproductive Justice framework. Together, they have created a powerful space for interdisciplinary dialogue that examines how emerging reproductive technologies intersect with racial justice, human rights, disability justice, and the future of Black communities.

The convening challenges participants to ask bold questions: How do we ensure that scientific and technological advances promote justice rather than reinforce inequity? How do we protect bodily autonomy and human dignity while confronting the possibility of a new form of eugenics disguised as scientific progress? These conversations are essential as reproductive technologies continue to shape healthcare and society.

BEJMA was honored to attend both the inaugural convening in 2025 and this year's gathering. The opportunity to learn from nationally recognized scholars, organizers, and movement leaders while engaging in thoughtful dialogue reinforces the importance of building coalitions that connect research, policy, community wisdom, and lived experience.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Jolly for her visionary leadership and for continuing to position Massachusetts as a national leader in advancing reproductive justice scholarship and action. Her work exemplifies BEJMA's commitment to courageous conversations and systems change.

Congratulations to Dr. Jolly, Professor Loretta Ross, and everyone who helped make this year's Reproductive Futurism Think Tank Convening such a empowering and transformative experience. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and translating them into action for communities across Massachusetts and beyond.

Photo credit: Dr. Jallicia Jolly

Storytelling as Advocacy: Midwifery + The Black Birthing Family

Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts believes that stories have the power to transform systems, preserve history, and inspire action. Midwifery + The Black Birthing Family is a powerful example of storytelling as advocacy—centering the voices, experiences, and wisdom of Black birthing families, midwives, and perinatal professionals while honoring the rich legacy of Black birth work. The project is part of The Diahann Project, a living archive created to document and preserve the stories of Black communities through photography, film, and narrative. It also includes a four-part documentary series and a companion anthology that elevates the lived experiences of Black birthing families and birth workers across Massachusetts.

BEJMA is proud to recognize Stefanie D. Belnavis, BC-DMT, LMHC, founder of The Diahann Project, for her visionary leadership in bringing this work to life. As a licensed mental health clinician, movement therapist, photographer, and storyteller, Belnavis has created a space where history, healing, art, and advocacy intersect. Through Midwifery + The Black Birthing Family, she has ensured that the stories of Black families and birth workers are not only documented but honored as an essential part of our collective history and our vision for the future.

BEJMA is especially honored that Interim Co-Chairs Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, CNM, and Tiffany Vassell, MS, RN, are featured in the documentary. Together, they represent two complementary perspectives in the maternal health movement. As a certified nurse-midwife, Dr. Rorie has dedicated her career to expanding access to midwifery care, promoting physiologic birth, birth center access, and advancing respectful, person-centered maternity care. As a registered nurse and public health leader, Tiffany Vassell has focused on improving maternal and infant health through clinical practice, public health leadership, policy advocacy, birth center expansion, perinatal mental health initiatives, and community partnerships.

Their participation reflects BEJMA's mission to bring together diverse voices committed to advancing birth equity. The documentary highlights the importance of expanding access to midwifery care, birth centers, culturally responsive care, and community-based solutions while elevating the lived experiences of Black families. These are the same priorities that continue to guide BEJMA's work across Massachusetts.

Midwifery + The Black Birthing Family is more than a documentary. It is a testament to the power of preserving stories, honoring the legacy of Black birth workers, and imagining a future where every Black family has access to safe, respectful, and equitable care. It reminds us that birth equity is achieved not only through policy and practice, but also by ensuring that the voices of Black communities are seen, heard, and remembered.

BEJMA extends its heartfelt appreciation to Stefanie D. Belnavis and everyone who contributed to this remarkable project. Their work has created a lasting archive that will educate, inspire, and empower future generations while strengthening the movement for Black maternal health and reproductive justice.

Photo credit: Stefanie D. Belnavis, BC-DMT, LMHC

Photo credit: Stefanie D. Belnavis, BC-DMT, LMHC

Celebrating Leadership, Partnership, and Progress at the 2026 Black Maternal Health Conference

Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts proudly celebrates the success of the Black Maternal Health Conference, hosted by the Center for Maternal Health Advancement (formerly the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice) at Tufts University. The conference continues to serve as a national gathering of leaders, advocates, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and community members committed to advancing maternal health and reproductive justice.

This year's conference also marked an exciting new chapter with the organization's transition to the Center for Maternal Health Advancement—reflecting its continued growth and commitment to transforming maternal health through research, education, policy, and community partnerships.

BEJMA extends its deepest congratulations and gratitude to Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, whose visionary leadership has helped establish the conference as one of the nation's premier forums for advancing maternal health. As the founder and leader of the Center for Maternal Health Advancement, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha has created a space where science, policy, clinical practice, community wisdom, and lived experience come together to drive meaningful change.

Dr. Amutah-Onukagha's impact extends far beyond this conference. As one of the original founders and a valued Steering Committee member of BEJMA, she has played an instrumental role in shaping Massachusetts' birth equity movement. Her leadership has helped strengthen partnerships across academia, healthcare, public health, community organizations, and advocacy groups.

Her commitment to collaboration, evidence-based solutions, and community engagement continues to inspire BEJMA's work. Through her leadership, she has demonstrated that lasting change requires not only research and policy but also authentic partnerships that elevate the voices and experiences of the communities most affected by inequities.

BEJMA is proud to stand alongside Dr. Amutah-Onukagha and the Center for Maternal Health Advancement as partners in advancing birth equity throughout Massachusetts and beyond.

Congratulations to Dr. Amutah-Onukagha and the entire Center for Maternal Health Advancement team on another successful conference and on this exciting new chapter. We look forward to continuing our shared work to advance equity, justice, and excellence in maternal health.

Photo credit: LinkedIn - Center for Maternal Health Advancement at Tufts University

A New Chapter for BEJMA: Introducing Our Interim Co-Chairs!

Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, CNM, and Tiffany Vassell, MS, RN, as Interim Co-Chairs. Their appointment reflects BEJMA's continued commitment to collaborative leadership, community partnership, and the advancement of birth equity across Massachusetts.

Together, Rorie and Vassell bring decades of combined experience spanning clinical care, public health, policy, advocacy, education, and community engagement. While their professional backgrounds are distinct, they share a common vision: ensuring that every birthing person, baby, child, and family has access to safe, respectful, culturally responsive, and equitable care throughout the perinatal journey.

As a certified nurse-midwife, Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie has dedicated her career to expanding access to midwifery care and advocating for models of care that center dignity, autonomy, and physiologic birth. Her leadership has supported the growth of community-based maternity care, strengthened maternal health systems, expanding access to birth centers, and advanced efforts to ensure families have access to high-quality reproductive and perinatal healthcare.

As a registered nurse and public health leader, Tiffany Vassell has spent more than a decade advancing maternal and child health through clinical practice, public health leadership, and systems change. Her work has focused on improving maternal and infant outcomes, strengthening community partnerships, access to birth centers, supporting perinatal mental health initiatives, and advocating for policies that promote health equity throughout Boston and the Commonwealth.

Collectively, Rorie and Vassell have been at the forefront of efforts to expand access to birth centers and midwifery care, improve maternal health outcomes, elevate community voices, and strengthen partnerships among healthcare providers, community organizations, advocates, and policymakers. Their combined expertise reflects BEJMA's belief that achieving birth equity requires collaboration across clinical care, public health, policy, and community leadership.

As Interim Co-Chairs, they will focus on strengthening BEJMA's statewide coalition, expanding strategic partnerships, increasing members, and building the infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth. Their leadership will prioritize advocacy, education, policy, and collective action to advance equitable maternal and child health outcomes while ensuring that the voices of Black families remain central to the coalition's work.

Under their leadership, BEJMA will continue to serve as a statewide convener, bringing together organizations, birth workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates, and community leaders committed to eliminating disparities and creating systems where families can thrive.

BEJMA looks forward to this new chapter and the continued collaboration that will drive impactful and lasting change across Massachusetts.

Honoring Our Leaders: Thank You for Your Service to BEJMA

As Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts enters a new chapter, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary leaders whose vision, dedication, and service have helped shape our coalition.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Jallicia Jolly for her outstanding leadership as Chair of BEJMA. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Jolly brought passion, wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to advancing birth equity and reproductive justice across Massachusetts. Her leadership helped strengthen our coalition, amplify community voices, and inspire collective action toward improving outcomes for mothers, babies, children, and families.

Dr. Jolly's thoughtful guidance and unwavering advocacy have left a lasting impact on BEJMA. We are incredibly grateful for the time, expertise, and heart she invested in building this movement, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of her leadership in the years ahead.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to our outgoing Steering Committee members:

  • Emily Anesta

  • Yaminah Romulus

  • Maia Raynor

  • Soraya Dos Santos

Each of you has generously shared your time, knowledge, and leadership to help advance BEJMA's mission. Whether through strategic planning, partnership development, advocacy, or community engagement, your contributions have strengthened our coalition and laid the groundwork for future growth and impact.

Movements are built by people who are willing to lead, collaborate, and invest in a vision larger than themselves. Because of your service, BEJMA is stronger, more connected, and better positioned to continue advancing birth equity across the Commonwealth.

On behalf of the entire BEJMA community, thank you for your dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to health equity and reproductive justice. Your legacy will continue to shape our work as we move forward.

We are deeply grateful for all you have given to this coalition and look forward to continuing to work alongside you in new ways as partners, advocates, and champions for maternal and child health.

BEJMA Sponsors Propa City's 2025 Family Restoration Day

On June 21st, BEJMA joined Propa City’s 2025 Family Restoration Day!

The event was held at Dr. Loesch Family Park, and it was a day of healing, family fun, and resources for the whole community.

Propa City’s commitment to healing, commUNITY, education, and advocacy is an impactful commitment to health equity and reproductive justice, and we were grateful to be an event sponsor!

Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Health Justice Partnership Reception

On December 4th, several of BEJMA’s Steering Committee members were honored to attend the Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts Health Justice Partnership Reception to reflect on a year of impact, collaboration, and change.

Thank you to BCBSMA for their support! Collaboration is at the heart of BEJMA, and we’re so grateful for everyone who makes this work possible. Here’s to an even greater impact in the year ahead!

Maternal Health Omnibus/Birthing Justice Bill is signed into Massachusetts law!

Featured image credit: Stefanie Belnavis of Birthlooms

On Monday, August 26th, the historic Maternal Health Omnibus, aimed at reducing racial inequities in maternal outcomes, was signed into state law by Governor Maura Healey surrounded by reproductive justice advocates and coalition members. BEJMA was honored to be at the ceremonial signing to celebrate the passage of the bill.

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